CLASSIFICATION OF ART

THE ART

PERFORMING
VISUAL ART DIGITAL ART APPLIED ART
/COMBINED ART

MUSIC FASHION
PAINTING
DESIGN
DANCE
FURNITURE
SCULPTURE FILM DESIGN

THEATER INTERIOR
ARCHITECTURE DESIGN
LITERARY
PERFORMANCE GRAPHIC
POETRY DESIGN
THE SUBJECT AS ART
To Kinds of Art as to Subject:

❑ Representational or Objective Art

✔ depict objects
✔ attempt to copy
✔ It use “form” and concerned with “what” is to be depicted in the artwork
✔ Artist – objective as possible
✔ Ex: still life, portrait, landscapes, Mythology and Religion, dreams and fantasies

❑ Nonrepresentational or Non-Objective Art

✔ Without any reference
✔ Has no recognizable objects or does not represent real objects
✔ It uses “content” and is concerned with “how” the artwork is depicted
✔ Artist – show ideas and feelings
✔ Modern paintings have purely visual appeal, so difficult that literal-oriented spectators
cannot appreciate them
Sources of the Subject as Art

NATURE – most common subject of art

HISTORY – historical period
GREEK AND ROMAN MYTHOLOGY – very important source of
subjects in the arts; definite part of inheritance
RELIGION – played an enormous role in inspiring works of visual arts,
music, architecture, literature through the ages
SACRED ORIENTAL TEXTS – Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism, Islam, etc…
THE CONTENT OF ART

The content of art is the meaning, message, and/or feeling imparted by the work of art.
CONTENT is inextricably linked with FORM, which refers to the pictorial aspects of art. It is the
mass of odes associated with each artwork and communicated through the following:

the art’s imagery

the symbolic meaning
Its surroundings where it is used or displayed
The customs, beliefs, and values of the culture that uses it
Writings that help explain the work
THE CONTENT OF ART

For some to better understand the content of art, there are 3 levels of meaning:
1. Factual Meaning – most common; literal statement or narrative content; objects
presented are easily recognized.
2. Conventional Meaning – special meaning; example: country flags, cross
(Christian symbol)
3. Subjective Meaning – individual meaning; using personal symbolism
KEEPING ART

A country, society, and individual may hold on to artwork often beyond its usefulness, which
may involve various considerations, including its meaning and economic value.
1. National pride and glory
2. Museums and private collections
3. Preservations and restorations